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Thermodynamics of a Two-Step Electroweak Phase Transition
Lauri Niemi1, Michael J Ramsey-Musolf2,3,4, Tuomas V I Tenkanen5
1Department of Physics and Helsinki Institute of Physics, P.O. Box 64, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
New physics beyond the standard model may cause a two-step electroweak phase transition. Nonperturbative lattice simulations reveal the first transition can be first order, differing from perturbative calculations.
Area of Science:
- Particle physics
- Cosmology
- Quantum field theory
Background:
- The standard model of particle physics describes fundamental particles and forces.
- Electroweak symmetry breaking (EWSB) is a crucial event in the early Universe.
- The thermal history of EWSB may involve new physics beyond the standard model.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the thermodynamics of electroweak symmetry breaking with a real triplet extension.
- Explore the possibility of a two-step electroweak phase transition.
- Compare nonperturbative lattice simulation results with perturbative calculations.
Main Methods:
- Utilize nonperturbative lattice simulations to study the thermodynamics.
- Analyze a real triplet extension of the standard model.
- Perform a comparison with two-loop perturbative calculations.
Main Results:
- A two-step electroweak phase transition occurs in a narrow parameter space region.
- The second transition is always first order.
- The first transition is first order in a significant portion of the parameter space.
- Significant discrepancies exist between nonperturbative and perturbative results.
Conclusions:
- The real triplet extension allows for a two-step electroweak phase transition.
- Nonperturbative methods are crucial for accurately describing the phase transitions.
- Perturbative calculations show significant deviations from nonperturbative findings.
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